BIA Recognizes Chinook

by Brian Stockes, Today staff Washington Bureau
Indian Country - January 17, 2001

WASHINGTON - In an attempt to correct wrongs it believed were committed in
the past, the BIA, through its federal acknowledgement process, has formally
recognized the Chinook Tribe of Washington state.

It further reaffirmed the federal government's trust relationship with the King
Salmon and Shoonaq' Tribes in Alaska and the Lower Lake Rancheria in
California.

The Chinook Tribe finally gained recognition after waiting more than 20 years
and battling multiple rejections by the BIA. As recently as 1997, the tribe was
turned down for acknowledgment. Despite this setback, the Chinook endured
and submitted more documentation and paperwork for review.

Former Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, Kevin Gover, who signed the
determination on his final day with Interior, said the decision to acknowledge
the Chinook was based on a review and analysis of the existing record in light
of the additional evidence.

"Opportunities such as this one are rare in government, and rare in the
Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Interior," Gover said. "Today we
have the opportunity to address directly a historical injustice lasting many
years."

The final determination shows a review of the 1997 proposed finding and
information submitted by the "Chinook Indian Tribe/Chinook Nation" and third
parties established that the tribe had met all seven criteria from first contact to
the present under the 1978 regulations on recognition. The determination also
concludes the Chinook were acknowledged by Congress in 1925, thus meeting
the 1994 regulations requiring that a petitioner demonstrate historical
continuity for a period commencing from the time of previous acknowledgment
to the present. The Chinook were therefore determined to have met the criteria
under both the 1978 and 1994 regulations.

The Chinook along the Columbia River in eastern Washington have
approximately 2,000 tribal members. Contact with the tribe dates as far back as
Lewis and Clark, when the explorers reported seeing more than 900 Chinook
Indians living in longhouses as they passed through the area in 1806. The tribe
first treated with the United States in 1851. It notified the BIA of its intent to
submit a petition for federal recognition in 1979, sparking more than 20 years of
debate.

Now that the Chinook finally have recognition they plan to concentrate on
restoring as much tribal tradition and culture as possible. Chairman Gary
Johnson says that despite the refusal of the federal government to recognize
the tribe, and its many struggles, members have maintained their core culture
and traditions.

"This is a great day for the Chinook people," Johnson said. "Throw out the
books that say the Chinook do not exist."

The final determination becomes effective 90 days after being published in
the Federal Register.

The BIA reaffirmed the trust relationship with King Salmon Tribe, the Shonnaq'
Tribe, and the Lower Lake Rancheria after what the BIA found were oversights
in official records. Because of administrative error, the BIA for several years
failed to place the three tribes on the list of federally recognized tribes it must
publish annually in the Federal Register. The list entitled "Indian Entities
Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of
Indian Affairs" was last published on March 13, 2000.

"The King Salmon Tribe, The Shoonaq' Tribe of Kodiak, and the Lower Lake
Rancheria have been officially overlooked for many years by the Bureau of
Indian Affairs even though their government-to-government relationship with
the United States was never terminated," said Kevin Gover. "I am pleased to
correct this egregious oversight."

With the BIA's recent actions, the number of federally recognized Indian
tribes now stands at 561, which also includes the Loyal Shawnee Tribe of
Oklahoma and the Granton Rancheria in California, both recognized under the
Omnibus Indian Advancement Act recently passed by Congress and signed by
the president.